Instructions for Form 8911 (01/2024)

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit

Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.

Revised: 01/2024


Instructions for Form 8911 - Introductory Material

Future Developments

For the latest information about developments related to Form 8911 and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were published, go to IRS.gov/Form8911.

What's New

Credit modification.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 modified the credit for certain refueling property placed in service after 2022.

Property must be located in an eligible census tract.

Refueling property placed in service after 2022 will not be treated as qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling property unless the property is placed in service in an eligible census tract. For this purpose, an eligible census tract is any population census tract that is described in section 45D(e) or that is not an urban area. See Eligible census tract.

Tax-exempt and governmental entities.

For tax years beginning after 2022, applicable entities (such as certain tax-exempt and governmental entities) can elect to treat the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit as a payment of income tax. See Applicable Entities.

Transfer of alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit.

For tax years beginning after 2022, eligible taxpayers, partnerships, and S corporations can elect to transfer all or part of the credit amount otherwise allowed as a general business credit to an unrelated third-party buyer in exchange for cash. Eligible taxpayers don’t include applicable entities. See Credit Transfers.

Pre-filing registration.

The IRS has established a pre-filing registration process that must be completed prior to electing payment or transfer of the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit. See Pre-Filing Registration for Payments and Transfers.

General Instructions

Purpose of Form

Use Form 8911 to figure your credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property you placed in service during your tax year. The part of the credit attributable to business/investment use is treated as a general business credit. Any part of the credit not attributable to business/investment use is treated as a personal credit.

Partnerships and S corporations must file this form to claim the credit. All other taxpayers aren’t required to complete or file this form if their only source for this credit is a partnership or S corporation. Instead, they can report this credit directly on line 1s in Part III of Form 3800, General Business Credit.

Which Revision To Use

Use the January 2024 revision of Form 8911 for tax years beginning in 2023 or later, until a later revision is issued. Use prior revisions of the form for earlier tax years. All revisions are available at IRS.gov/Form8911.

Amount of Credit

For property of a character subject to an allowance for depreciation (business/investment use property), the credit for each item of property is the smaller of 6% (30% if certain project requirements are met) of the property's cost or $100,000. For property of a character not subject to an allowance for depreciation placed in service at your main home (personal use property), the credit for each item of property is generally the smaller of 30% of the property's cost or $1,000.

Each property’s cost must first be reduced by any section 179 expense deduction taken for the property.

Applicable Entities

For tax years beginning after 2022, applicable entities as defined under section 6417(d)(1)(A) that generally don't benefit from income tax credits can elect to treat the business credit for alternative fuel vehicle refueling property as a payment of income tax. Resulting overpayments may result in refunds.

Applicable entities making the elective payment election for the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit must file the following.

  • Form 8911.

  • The statements required for amounts reported on Form 8911, lines 1 and 7.

  • Form 3800, General Business Credit.

  • Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return, or other applicable income tax return.

For a discussion of what is an applicable entity, see Applicable entity making an elective payment election on IRA 2022 credits in the Instructions for Form 3800. For more information on elective payment elections under section 6417, see Elective Payment of Certain Business Credits Under Section 6417 or Section 48D in the Instructions for Form 3800.

Credit Transfers

For tax years beginning after 2022, under section 6418, eligible taxpayers, partnerships, and S corporations can elect to transfer all or a part of the credit figured in Part II to an unrelated third-party buyer in exchange for cash. For more information on credit transfers, see Transfer of Eligible Credits Under Section 6418 in the Instructions for Form 3800.

Pre-Filing Registration for Payments and Transfers

Before you file your tax return, if you intend to make an elective payment election or transfer election on Form 3800 for the credit in Part II, you must complete a pre-filing registration for each property or project. To register, go to IRS.gov/Credits-Deductions/Register-for-Elective-Payment-or-Transfer-of-Credits.

See Pub. 5884, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and CHIPS Act of 2022 (CHIPS) Pre-Filing Registration Tool. Also see Registering For and Making Elective Payment and Transfer Elections in the Instructions for Form 3800.

Required statement for elective payment and transfer elections.

See the specific instructions for Line 7, later.

Qualified Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property

Qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling property is any property (other than a building or its structural components) used for either of the following.

  • To store or dispense an alternative fuel (defined below) other than electricity into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle propelled by the fuel, but only if the storage or dispensing is at the point where the fuel is delivered into that tank.

  • To recharge an electric vehicle, but only if the recharging property is located at the point where the vehicle is recharged.

In addition, the following requirements must be met to qualify for the credit.

  • You placed the refueling property in service during your tax year.

  • The original use of the property began with you.

  • The property isn’t used predominantly outside the United States.

  • If the property isn’t business/investment use property, the property must be installed on property used as your main home.

  • The property must be located in an eligible census tract.

Exception.

If you are the seller of new refueling property to a tax-exempt organization or a governmental unit (other than an applicable entity that claims the credit and elects payment), or a foreign person or entity, and the use of that property is described in section 50(b)(3) or (4), you can claim the credit, but only if you clearly disclose in writing to the purchaser the amount of the tentative credit allowable for the refueling property (included on line 7 of Form 8911). Treat all property eligible for this exception as business/investment use property. If you elect to claim the credit, you must reduce cost of goods sold by the amount you entered on line 7 for that property.

Alternative fuel.

The following are alternative fuels.

  • Any fuel at least 85% of the volume of which consists of one or more of the following: ethanol, natural gas, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, or hydrogen.

  • Any mixture which consists of two or more of the following: biodiesel (as defined in section 40A(d)(1)), diesel fuel (as defined in section 4083(a)(3)), or kerosene, and at least 20% of the volume of which consists of biodiesel determined without regard to any kerosene in such mixture.

  • Electricity.

Bidirectional charging equipment.

Property will not fail to be treated as qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling property solely because it:

  • Is capable of charging the battery of a motor vehicle propelled by electricity, and

  • Allows discharging electricity from such battery to an electric load external to the motor vehicle.

Eligible census tract.

Property placed in service after 2022 will not be treated as qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling property unless it was placed in service in an eligible census tract. Worksheet 1 will help you determine whether property placed in service in 2023 or 2024 was placed in service in an eligible census tract. For information about attaching a statement providing information supporting this determination, see the specific instructions for Line 1 , later.

For more information, see Notice 2024-20, 2024-7 I.R.B. 668, available at IRS.gov/irb/2024-07_IRB#NOT-2024-20.

Worksheet 1. Eligible Census Tract Determination for Refueling Property Placed in Service in 2023 or 2024

Use a separate worksheet for each separate location where property was placed in service.

1. Enter either the address or the latitude and longitude coordinates for the location where the refueling property was placed in service.

1. _____________________________________________________________________________________
2. Enter the 11-digit census tract GEOID obtained by using the address or coordinates on line 1 with the CDFI mapping tool

2. _________________
  The CDFI mapping tool is available at www.CDFIfund.gov/cims.*  
3. Is the 11-digit census tract GEOID you entered on line 2 listed in Appendix A of Notice 2024-20?

Yes. Property placed in service at the location described on line 1 is considered placed in service in an eligible census tract.

No. Continue to line 4.

Appendix A is available at IRS.gov/pub/irs-drop/Appendix-A-List-of-2015-Census-Tract-Boundary-30c-Eligible-Tracts-v2-1-4-2024.pdf.
4. Enter the 11-digit census tract GEOID obtained by using the address or coordinates on line 1 with the Census Geocoder

4. _________________
 
To use an address, go to https://Geocoding.geo.Census.gov/Geocoder/Geographies/Address?Form.**

To use latitude and longitude coordinates, go to https://Geocoding.geo.Census.gov/Geocoder/Geographies/Coordinates?Form.**
5. Is the 11-digit census tract GEOID you entered on line 4 listed in Appendix B of Notice 2024-20?

Yes. Property placed in service at the location described on line 1 is considered placed in service in an eligible census tract.

No. Property placed in service at the location described on line 1 does not qualify for this credit.

Appendix B is available at IRS.gov/pub/irs-drop/Appendix-B-List-of-2020-Census-Tract-Boundary-30c-Eligible-Tracts-v2-1-4-2024.pdf.


* On that page, choose “CDFI,” which should take you to a page titled “CDFI Public Viewer.” In the left-hand side column, choose “Layers.” Under “CIMS Layers,” put a checkmark in the box next to “2015 CDFI Tract” and remove all checkboxes from other CIMS Layers. Specifically, uncheck the “2020 CDFI Tract” box. Type in the refueling property address or latitude and longitude in the “Search Addresses” bar at the top. This will take you to the tract of the location you entered. If you left click your mouse, the 11-digit population census tract identifier (that is, the GEOID) will appear.

** In the “Benchmark” drop-down menu, choose “Public_AR_Census2020.” In the “Vintage” drop-down menu, choose “Census2020_Current.” The 11-digit population census tract identifier is in the GEOID under “Census Tracts.” Further instructions to use the Census Geocoder are available at www2.Census.gov/Data/api-Documentation/Address%20Search%20-%20Geocoder%20and%20TIGERweb/How%20to%20Find%20Geo%20Info%20from%20Address.pdf.

Electric charging stations for certain vehicles with two or three wheels.

Property of a character subject to an allowance for depreciation (business/investment use property) for the recharging of a motor vehicle is qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling property. For this purpose, a motor vehicle:

  • Is manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, or highways (not including a vehicle operated exclusively on a rail or rails);

  • Has two or three wheels; and

  • Is propelled by electricity.

Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship Requirements

If a qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling project does not meet the project requirements discussed in this section, the amount of credit that applies to business/investment use property that is part of the project will be figured using a credit rate of 6% instead of 30%.

Qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling project.

A qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling project is a project consisting of one or more properties that are part of a single project.

Project requirements.

A qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling project meets the project requirements if it is one of the following.

  • A project the construction of which begins prior to January 29, 2023.

  • A project that satisfies the prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements.

Beginning of construction.

Two methods can be used to establish when construction of a qualified project has begun. Both methods are subject to a continuity requirement.

  1. The Physical Work Test is satisfied when physical work of a significant nature begins, and the other requirements are met.

  2. The Five Percent Safe Harbor is satisfied when a taxpayer pays or incurs 5% or more of the total cost of the qualified project and meets the other requirements.

The Continuity Requirement is satisfied if you demonstrate either continuous construction or continuous effort.

Prevailing wage requirements.

The taxpayer will ensure that any laborers and mechanics employed by the taxpayer or any contractor or subcontractor in the construction of any qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling property that is part of the project are paid wages at rates not less than the prevailing rates for construction, alteration, or repair of a similar character in the locality in which the project is located as most recently determined by the Secretary of Labor, in accordance with subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code.

Apprenticeship requirements.

Regarding the construction of any qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling property that is part of the project, apprenticeship requirements are as follows.

  • Taxpayers must ensure that the applicable percentage of the total labor hours of the construction, alteration, or repair work (including such work performed by any contractor or subcontractor), subject to apprentice to journeyworker ratio, be performed by qualified apprentices. For construction that begins in 2023, the ratio is 12.5%. For construction that begins after December 31, 2023, the ratio is 15%.

  • Apprenticeship requirements for apprentice-to-journeyworker ratios are subject to any applicable requirements for apprentice-to-journeyworker ratios of the Department of Labor or the applicable state apprenticeship agency.

  • With regard to participation, each taxpayer, contractor, or subcontractor who employs four or more individuals to perform construction, alteration, or repair work must employ one or more qualified apprentices to perform such work. Registered apprenticeship programs can be located using the Office of Apprenticeship's partner finder tool, available at www.Apprenticeship.gov/Partner-Finder and through the applicable State Apprenticeship Agency finder tool, available at www.Apprenticeship.gov/About-us/State-Offices.

Required statement.

See the specific instructions for Lines 4b and 4c, later.

More information.

For more information, see the following.

Basis Reduction

Unless you elect not to claim the credit, you must reduce the basis of the property by the sum of the amounts entered on lines 7 and 13 for that property.

In the case of any applicable entity which makes the election for payment of alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit, the credit is determined without regard to section 50(b)(3) and (4)(A)(i), and that property is treated as used in a trade or business of the applicable entity.

Recapture

If the property no longer qualifies for the credit, you may have to recapture part or all of the credit. For more information, see section 30C(e)(5).

Specific Instructions

Line 1

Attach a separate statement listing, for each property, a description and eligible census tract location for the property, including the 11-digit census tract Geographic Identifier (GEOID) for the population census tract. The 11-digit census tract GEOID is a GEOID defined by the U.S. Census Bureau and comprised of a 2-digit state GEOID, 3-digit county GEOID, and 6-digit census tract GEOID. The 11-digit census tract GEOID provides a unique identifier for each population census tract in the United States, including tracts in U.S. territories.

Line 2

To figure the business/investment use part of the total cost, multiply the cost of each separate refueling property by the percentage of business/investment use for that property. If during the tax year you convert property used solely for personal purposes to business/investment use (or vice versa), figure the percentage of business/investment use only for the number of months you use the property in your business or for the production of income. Multiply that percentage by the number of months you use the property in your business or for the production of income and divide the result by 12.

Line 3

Enter any section 179 expense deduction you took for the property from Part I of Form 4562, Depreciation and Amortization.

Lines 4b and 4c

Enter on line 4b any amount included on line 4a attributable to property placed in service as part of a project subject to project requirements that were not met. See Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship Requirements, earlier.

If the amount you enter on line 4b is less than the amount you entered on line 4a, attach a statement to provide additional information about the refueling property used to figure the amount included on line 4c. Attach a separate statement for each project consisting of one or more refueling properties that are part of a single project. The statement must include the following information.

  1. Your name, address, taxpayer identification number, and telephone number.

  2. For each project, include the following.

    1. A description of one or more properties placed in service during the tax year as a part of the project, including a statement that the property is an integral part of such project.

    2. The date that the qualified alternative fuel vehicle refueling property was placed in service.

    3. The cost of the property.

    4. Location of the refueling property or properties.

  3. For each project that began construction before January 29, 2023, a statement that you met the Continuity Requirement under the Physical Work Test or the Five Percent Safe Harbor to establish the beginning of construction.

  4. For each project that began construction on or after January 29, 2023, include the following.

    1. The applicable wage determinations (as defined below).

    2. The wages paid (including any correction payments as defined in section 45(b)(7)(B)(i)(I)) and hours worked for each of the laborer or mechanic classifications engaged in the construction of the property or properties.

    3. The number of workers who received correction payments.

    4. The wages paid and hours worked by qualified apprentices for each of the laborer or mechanic classifications engaged in the construction of the property or properties.

    5. The total labor hours for the construction of the project by any laborer or mechanic employed by the taxpayer or any contractor or subcontractor.

  5. A declaration, applicable to the statement and any accompanying documents, signed by you, or signed by a person currently authorized to bind you in such matters, in the following form: “Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this statement, including accompanying documents, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, the facts presented in support of this statement are true, correct, and complete.”

Applicable wage determinations mean the wage listed for a particular classification of laborer or mechanic on the applicable wage determination for the type of construction and the geographic area or other applicable wage as determined by the Secretary of Labor. See Prevailing Wage and Apprenticeship Requirements, earlier.

Line 6

If you placed more than one item of refueling property in service, but each item of property would result in a credit amount of not more than $100,000 if each item of property was reported separately on line 5c, include the amount from line 5c on both line 6 and line 7.

If you placed more than one item of refueling property with business/investment use in service, and at least one item of property would result in an amount of more than $100,000 if that item of property was reported separately on line 5c, add the separate amounts for each item of property, but don't include in the total more than $100,000 for any single item of property.

Line 7

Applicable entities making an elective payment election and eligible taxpayers, partnerships, and S corporations making an election to transfer all or part of the credit, attach a statement providing the following information for refueling property used to figure the amount reported on line 7.

  1. The name, address, and taxpayer identification number used to obtain the IRS-issued registration number(s).

  2. For each separate refueling property or properties as part of a project:

    1. The IRS-issued registration number.

    2. The date that the refueling property or project was placed in service.

    3. The total amounts with respect to the property or project reported on lines 4b, 4c, 5a, 5b, 6, and 7.

Line 8

Enter total alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credits from:

  • Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), Partner's Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc., box 15 (code AO); and

  • Schedule K-1 (Form 1120-S), Shareholder's Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc., box 13 (code AO).

Partnerships and S corporations report the above credits on line 8. All other filers figuring a separate credit on earlier lines also report the above credits on line 8. All others not using earlier lines to figure a separate credit can report the above credits directly on Form 3800, Part III, line 1s.

Line 9

Partnerships and S corporations.

If you are a partnership or S corporation electing to transfer all or a portion of the alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit under section 6418(c), you must report the total credit amount shown on the line 7 required statement on Form 3800, Part III, line 1s, and not as a credit on Schedule K.

Line 12

Enter $1,000 for each item of refueling property you placed in service during your tax year.

Line 15b

Follow the instructions below and refer to your income tax return to figure the amount to enter on line 15b.

Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR.

Enter the total of any credits or adjustments on Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR, line 19, and Schedule 3 (Form 1040), lines 2 through 5, and 7 (reduced by any general business credit reported on line 6a, any credit for prior-year minimum tax reported on line 6b, or any credit to holders of tax credit bonds reported on line 6k).

Form 1041, Schedule G.

Enter the total of any write-in credits on line 2e (not including any credits from lines 2a through 2d).

Line 17

Although you may not owe alternative minimum tax (AMT), you must still figure the tentative minimum tax (TMT) to figure your credit. Complete and attach the applicable AMT form or schedule and enter the TMT on line 17.

Line 19

If you can’t use part of the personal portion of the credit because of the tax liability limit, the unused credit is lost. The unused personal portion of the credit can’t be carried back or forward to other tax years.

Instructions for Form 8911 - Notices

Paperwork Reduction Act Notice.

We ask for the information on this form to carry out the Internal Revenue laws of the United States. You are required to give us the information. We need it to ensure that you are complying with these laws and to allow us to figure and collect the right amount of tax.

You are not required to provide the information requested on a form that is subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act unless the form displays a valid OMB control number. Books or records relating to a form or its instructions must be retained as long as their contents may become material in the administration of any Internal Revenue law. Generally, tax returns and return information are confidential, as required by section 6103.

The time needed to complete and file this form will vary depending on individual circumstances. The estimated burden for taxpayers filing this form is approved under OMB control number 1545-0074 and 1545-0123 and is included in the estimates shown in the instructions for their income tax return.

If you have comments concerning the accuracy of these time estimates or suggestions for making this form simpler, we would be happy to hear from you. See the instructions for the tax return with which this form is filed.